Carrots are cooked for French swordsmen.
During the qualifying World Cup for the Tokyo Games this Sunday in Budapest (Hungary), the Blues were dominated in their duel from a distance with the Russians.
Indeed, to claim to qualify the team, the Habs absolutely had to finish ahead of the Russians in the standings.
It missed!
For the French, the competition came to an abrupt end in the quarter-finals, after a defeat (42-45) against Germany.
At the same time, the Russians got rid of the Italians at the finish (45-43) and thus ensured their team qualification for Tokyo.
With the absence of the French sabers in Tokyo, it is the first team that is guaranteed to stay at home.
đź‡đź‡ş #Budapest // SABER
HOMMES 💔💔💔
The French team lost 45/42 against Germany.
pic.twitter.com/sItVys6NJa
- French Fencing Federation (@ffescrime) March 14, 2021
The other weapons (foil men and women, saber women, épée men) are qualified.
There is still some uncertainty with the women swordsmen, who will have to validate their ticket during a World Cup event from March 19 to 23, in Kazan, Russia.
Led to the score but never really won
Suddenly, there will be only one saber present in Tokyo against three, if the team had qualified this Sunday.
The lucky winner should be Boladé Apithy, the best Frenchman in the world ranking thanks to his seventh place.
He is well ahead of Vincent Anstett, relegated to 16th place.
The latter had reached the quarter-finals of the Rio Olympics, but should follow in front of his TV those of Tokyo.
The disappointment of the French is all the greater because it was played out on details.
After two warm-up laps against Turkey (45-33) and China (45-35), the French, led by Boladé Apithy, Vincent Anstett, Tom Seitz and Maxence Lambert, did not go far against the Germans.
Led to the score but never really won, the Blues came back on the heels of the Germans thanks to a fantastic Tom Seitz, who unfortunately was injured and remained long minutes on the ground.
The meeting is then interrupted with the arrival of the healers.
During this time, in a meeting with knives, the Russians have the last word against the Italians (45-43).
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When the game resumes, the French know that it is imperative that they win.
Maxence Lambert, who replaced injured Tom Seitz and Vincent Anstett allows France to come back one length from the Germans before the last stint (39-40).
The qualification for Tokyo is played in the hands of Balodé Apithy, who is surprised by Matyas Szabo (39-43).
Despite a last stand (42-43) of the French number 1, Germany does not crack by winning (42-45).
A very sad return to competition after a year of absence for the French swordsmen.